December 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Decadent December continued... with my biggest brush, a Simpson Polo 12.

In addition to the big Simpson brush I used my tea kettle, scuttle and Wade and Butcher near wedge. This is huge brush and loaded like the soap owed me money and was a month late. There was lots and lots of lather, why not, it is Sunday. The edge felt very smooth so I did my four passes. I was surprised to see a small nick and two weepers, give the smoothness of the edge I was surprised to see blood. Finished BBS though so in true 30 Day fashion, despite the blood it was an excellent shave.

Irritation A- Closeness A Smoothness A+ Sharpness A-

 

December 17 - brushless

Rockwell 6s on plate #3 / Topaz Platinum (shave 2)
Neutrogena Skin Clearing Shave Cream
Alum and cold water
Neutrogena Razor Defense Post Shave Lotion

The Neutrogena really surprised me. I remembered it from my last uses of it as a "shaving is a chore" heavy goop best suited to 3-minute cart shaves. And the balm as not much better. In fact, when thinly rubbed into a wet face, the shave cream was scentless but has a pleasant menthol-like tingle. It protected well during my usual passes and left my skin feeling clean. And it rinsed easily off my razor between strokes.

The balm has a pleasant light herbal scent. I suspect it's the aloe vera but am not sure; I did notice the scent was still apparent to me an hour after I used the lotion. The lotion has good soothing and moisturizing qualities without being oily or heavy and simply sank into my skin without leaving a residue, apart from the scent.

Overall the cream and balm gave me a good shave and after-shave experience. Especially considering that they are cheap, commercial drugstore products. I will continue using them whenever I want a fast shave without the bother of a brush and lather bowl. I don’t know if they come in TSA-approved sizes, but if so they would also be good travel products.

 

Welcome aboard and hey, this is the right forum for any question! First of all, nice choice of a razor to start with. The EJ DE89 is a fine razor and one that is easy and consistent to learn with. So well done on that. As to the blades I definitely applaud the Astra SP. Derby is usually a pretty good blade even if it isn't the sharpest but there are better. I like the Derby, don't get me wrong. Just prefer some others. As for the Merkur - skip it- that's my free advice. (Understand that any advice on blades is subject to your own preferences). The Merkur has never been a good blade for me and many will agree with that assessment. The Feather is a fantastic blade but SHARP. Perhaps more than you are ready for right now but hey, you never know until you try and bleed.

Technique is going to be the key to success as it is for all of us. The fact you are getting a different result on one side of your neck is something we all have experienced to some degree. It probably has to do more with the hand you're using on that side than any other one thing. As a dedicated rightie, using my left hand is never as good as my right. I had to learn to shave with my left hand to get the same quality on my left neck especially. Even my left face was harder to get down than my right. So there's that. It sounds like you've mapped your beard growth so you're ahead of most after a month. Focus on technique - on matching the angle on all areas and in both hands and give it some time.

Sharper blades do not necessarily equal better or closer shaves. If the Astra SP is working stick with it. If not, I'd recommend trying a Voskhod, Bic Chrome Platinum or a Rapira Super Stainless (pink/white/blue wrapper). But here's the real key - whatever blade works - stick with that setup for 30 days. Same razor, blade, soap, everything. That makes the only variable your technique and you'll be amazed at how much better and even the result is in that time.

Hope that helps and feel free to ask anything else you need to know!

 

If you want to PM me your name and address I'll get a couple other teflon blades to you so you can compare. If none of them are any better or cause the problem then you will know it's a teflon issue.

 

You are a boss. I will PM you. I really want it not to be.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

Decadent December!!

December 17


Razor - 1947 Gillette Super Speed
Blade - (2)
Soap - Proraso Red
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Post - Alum

Simple process to get the setup tonight. Change soap and brush and shave. Easy. The Proraso Red features a nice sandlewood scent that I'm getting to like quite a bit. And the BoS did its usual fine job. I did change up and bowl lather tonight which is rare, but I got a really nice lather out of it.

Two passes with the '47 SS and Ladas to another near BBS. I may have just gotten it but I'm not chasing it. Having too much fun and enjoying these quality shaves way too much. Once again I realized why Ladas is high on my list of great blades. An unsung Russian hero among the group.

Hope it's warmer where you are than where I am. And a bit less icy too. But hey, it's December, right? And at least it's Decadent in here!

 

Welcome @jtspartan ! You have indeed chosen a great place to ask questions. Not that this group has a "normal" condition, but we are kind of cutting up this month. While themes like Decadent December happen, it's still about developing technique and improving your shave.
To your situation - You have noted what's referred to as Face Mapping. Knowing which direction your beard grows. Few face shavers get off with an easy neck area beard reduction. (We don't openly discuss other areas.) So you've figured out ATG causes irritation. One solution is to stop doing that. Go WTG, do XTG in two directions, and be satisfied with a Socially Acceptable Shave (SAS) in that area. Another possible option that may assist you in improving beard reduction may be Skin Stretching. Do you have an Alum block? After you lather up, moisten your fingers on your off hand - rub an alum block to make your fingers grip through the lather. Pull the skin to one side to flatten it out. This may assist you in following the contours of your face if it's pulled taunt away from your Addams apple.
As to your razor / blade combo; If your EJ89 is similar to my Muhle R89, it's a "mild" razor. That may induce you to press against the skin trying to get that weird patch. There in lies issues. A light touch combined with proper angle will leave you less irritated. Did I mention Angle of Attack? There's a few shavers experimenting with using the guard bar. More of us rely on a technique know as "Riding The Cap".

 

Near disaster averted. My next batch of pre shave oil will not be stored in an empty M-Bomb container. I couldn't remember what scent I made last time, so I smelled it right before I put it on, and realized it was the actual M-Bomb. That would have been an eye opening pre shave.

 

Decadent December

Arko & Cremo, Berma-Shave boar brush
Weck shavette/ Personna blade
Schick Stick L2/ Chick blade
Alum, Pacific Shaving Co. AS lotion



Two soaps, decadent? Certainly lemony. Either are good in my den, together better! Two razors? Yes, because of my two Weck shavettes this larger one has bitten me more. Straight razor Logic says Bigger is Better. Umm, not so far for me, but this time I deliberately slowed my motions and took shorter strokes. That change gave better reduction with less error when using my other, the smaller Bantam model. Thank you @Herm2502 for mentioning this strategy of short strokes. It's helping me keep blood off the steel. So no nicks, no weepers during easy WTG, getting more comfy with ATG. Still working on adding XTG below my chin. That's why the second razor comes out. Decadence doesn't mean lack of caution. Clean up with the 4 speed injector yielded fairly quiet alum. Anticipating cold dry air I used one of my AS lotions. They seem to moisturize better. The peppermint scent is nice too.
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

Pre shave or - perhaps - lower body splash?

 

Mongoose B3/Feather Super Pro (7)
Stirling 26mm Finest
Stirling Gentleman Shaving Soap
Stirling Unscented Witch Hazel
Stirling Gentleman Aftershave Splash W/ Menthol
Stirling Executive Man Beard Oil


BBS!!!

 

I'm sure I would have grabbed what ever was handy to get it off my hands. I am still shuddering thinking about how bad that would have been on my hands and face, let alone anywhere else.

Tonight's decedance included a freshly honed 7/8 Dubl Duck, Dubl Duck brush with Omega boar knot, and Queen Anne's Revnege soap and splash, from Black Ship Grooming Co. Lather was thick and smelled of floral and fruit, brush was amazing. I seriously don't think I can find a knot I like better than this $12 Omega 10066. My synthetic and badger were both pricier, but this one is softer and has more backbone.

Two passes on face, chin, and jawline to BBS. Neck needed two more passes to get DFS. No big slices today, but quickly realized this razor also has a spike tip. Think I am going to do a focus next month with my larger razors. I seem to have to work harder with them to get a good shave, and I have two big ones inbound from Koraat in the next month or so. Alum burned annoy, bit witch hazel calmed it down. Aftershave felt good, and smelled great. Menthol was a nice finish to a good shave.

 

Thank you for the excellent advise. Voshhods just became available through Fendrihan here in Canada. Will give them a go.
Does it ever happen that ATG is just not always possible everywhere?

 

Excellent advise, thank you. To answer your questions, yes I do try Skin Stretching and no, I haven't used an Alum Block to this point. Styptic Pencil only for the skin tag that I used to have (thank you DE!) and a few weepers that didn't stop asap.
I guess I'm trying to have the best of both worlds- Not going ATG on my neck to avoid irritation, and expecting the same results as the rest of my face...

 

Yes, that can happen. It's the most irritating way to shave and doesn't always yield enough of a result to be worth the problems it causes.

 

Sorry, forgot to mention a big thank yo for the link to the Riding the Cap thread. Very informative!

 

December decadence - razors and blades

In a fit of decadent exuberance, I overcame my Scots ancestry tonight and discarded every blade running in my razors now regardless of how many shaves they probably had left in them. I loaded fresh blades in everything and set up a rotation to test razors and blades until the blades need replacing:

Sunday - Supply Provision Single Edge injector / vintage Schick Super Chromium
Monday - Schick J3 / Personna white pack injector
Tuesday - EverReady 1912(?) SE / Gem PTFE
Wednesday - Rockwell 6s / Israeli IP
Thursday - PreWar Canadian Tech / Topaz Platinum
Friday - FatBoy / vintage Gillette Platinum Plus
Saturday - Super Adjustable / PolSilver

When the first DE blade wears out, I will replace it with a Personna Lab Blue. (I'm betting the Topaz Platinum will die first.)

I may well be using some of these razors well past March...

 

Thank you. It is one of those that I kind of just can't put down.

 

What's the worst thing that could happen?

 

December 18, 2016
ATT Calypso R1
Feather
Rubberset 400 #3 with WSP HMW
Nuavia Blu
Witch Hazel

​

A very nice relaxing shave this morning. This brush is huge and whips up mountains of lather. I have other soaps with equal or better performance but the scent of the Nuavia Blu is just intoxicated. I get a nice warm somewhat spicy scent that lingers well after the shave. On a cold dreary morning, the scent and the cup of hot coffee are equally appreciated. Three passes and some touch ups ended in a near BBS which is more than good enough for today. I plan on spending the day with the family and just relaxing. I pushed things a little to hard yesterday and really need to let the steroid injections to their job. I hope everyone has a fantastic Sunday.